I have been known to let my thoughts run away with me. Healthy? Sane? What ever. It is what it is, and it’s me.
I returned from the south and was happy to be back where I was pretty confident that coyotes would not be wandering down my street. Furthermore, I was itching to get out for a run.
Without so much as a thought, I laced up and drove to my newest hangout. I headed to a local park known for it’s steep hillsides, open meadows filled with wild flowers, and lovely views. With each hill came huffing and puffing, and so much joy in just being able to be there.
When I finally let myself think about the possibility of running into wild coyotes, or other animals, I tried to refrain from panicking — which worked — for a little while.
When I finally let it take over my head, I began entertaining awful thoughts such as:
- Is it better to look big & threatening OR small & insignificant?
- Can coyotes smell blood from miles away?
- If you look big & threatening, but smell of blood (menstruating), will the coyotes smell rule out over their fear?
I tried to push images of being eaten alive from my mind and, in the meantime, picked up the pace running as fast as I could back to the MommyVan. Let’s face it, by the time people start missing me, it would be too late — even if I informed everyone on my whereabouts via a Facebook status.
Oh goodness Julie!!!
Next time try to think about bunnies and rainbows, haha.
Don’t worry so much about those little coyotes…. Oh but keep an eye out for the huge and swift MOUNTAIN LIONS!
I’m less concerned with the wildlife I might run into (even here in Boulder during the week) and more with the random creepy dudes along the trail. Saw one again last night and it was enough to keep me on the street instead of taking the trail. The idea of mountain lions spooked me when we were in Golden last year, for sure, though. But you know from experience that the TM isn’t always 100% safe either! So, whaddya gonna do but be as safe as possible and try to be faster than they are!
I’m glad I’m not the only one afraid of wildlife. Someone’s Australian sheepdog ran up to me on the trail the other day only I just caught it out of the corner of my eye and didn’t know what it was and I started screaming like a mad woman. When I discovered it was a tail wagging dog I was chagrined. Oh well.
Coyotes are usually pretty timid around people. Mt. Lions are a whole ‘nother story *shudder*
LOL… Coyotes have learned to fear humans. The size and/or sex does not matter.
um holy crap. How do you think at all while running?